The 15 best things to do in Atherton Tablelands with kids

The undulating Atherton Tablelands are scenic and unspoilt. They begin just west of Cairns and rise more than 700 metres above sea level. The area boasts a beautiful temperate climate free of coastal humidity.

The stunning region has ancient rainforests, wetlands and savannahs. As well as volcanic lakes, waterfalls and national parks. These national parks contain some of Australia’s best mountain biking trails.

There is an abundance of wildlife in Atherton Tablelands, including 327 species of bird. Plus rare and endangered critters including Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos, bandicoots, rock wallabies, platypus and cassowary. But its splendid natural beauty is just part of the appeal.

The region is rich in history and home to many antique and arts and craft shops and galleries. It’s also a food-lovers paradise – its basalt soil, good rainfall and plentiful sunshine made the Tablelands a fertile food bowl.

The town of Atherton was first settled during the latter half of the 19th century. When gold and tin prospectors and pastoralists came in search of untapped riches. Corn, sugar cane, dairy products and beef are its primary exports these days.

Family-friendly things to do in Atherton Tablelands

Crystal Caves

Discover 300 metres of man-made caves filled with crystals and fossils at Crystal Caves. The collection of mineralogical specimens come from all over the world. Kids can touch and feel over 600 crystals and fossils. Explore the series of tunnels and grottos by headlamp. Make sure you seek out the world’s largest amethyst geode, the 3.2-metre-high Empress of Uruguay. Then crack open a geode to study under a microscope. Take home your own crystal or gemstone jewellery from the gift shop.

Stargazing tours with Night Sky Secrets

Discover hidden nebula, galaxies, star clusters and planets with big aperture telescopes. Night Sky Secrets’ farm in Mareeba is the perfect spot for clear night skies. Learn Aboriginal astronomy stories and lore from experienced guides. Enjoy sunset dining before embarking on a dark sky outback adventure. Night Sky Secrets‘s astronomy tours run from April until November each year.

Historic Village Herberton

Step back in time at Historic Village Herberton, 20 kilometres out of Atherton. The old tin mining town is now an outdoor pioneer museum. It is full of restored period buildings. Visit the old pub, bank, chemist, grocer, printer and garage. Then eat a traditional afternoon tea at the Bakerville Tearooms.

Children will love the nostalgic toy and automobile collections, as well as the interactive blacksmithing demonstration.

Bat Hospital Visitor Centre

Kids will go batty over the flying foxes, microbats and fruit bats at the Bat Hospital Visitor Centre. At the centre, you can watch the bats eat and interact with each other. Learn about their lives, their importance to the environment and the work of the bat hospital. You must book a tour, where guides will introduce you to the bats that live at the hospital.

Mountain biking

Get on your bikes at Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park. A network of purpose-built, mountain bike trails in the Herberton Range State Forest. The 60-kilometre nest of trails are suitable for all expertise levels. You can spend days tackling its sweeping bends and berms.

You’ll also want to allow time to ride in the Mareeba Skills Park or Davies Creek Trail Network. Both are within a 30-minute drive. The Smithfield Mountain Bike Trail Park is a little further, just north of Cairns. These trails have hosted the UCI MTB World Championships.

Gallo Dairyland

Gallo Dairyland is a fully operational dairy farm on the banks of the Barron River. The farm offers a taste of farm life with a side of hand-crafted chocolate and cheeses.

The farm has a cafe, gourmet cheese factory and animal nursery. Kids can pat cows, alpaca, hens and more in the nursery.

Eyes on Wildlife Birding & Wildlife Tours

Home to pademelon, platypus and more, discover the wildlife of the Atherton Tablelands. Eyes on Wildlife Tours have eight different itineraries for families to see birds and wildlife. 

If nocturnal mammals are your style, seek out possums, gliders and Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo’s on a nocturnal spotlighting tour. The wet tropics endemic birds tour will have you snapping pics of bright golden bowerbirds, the pied monarch and on average 80 different species.

Hot air ballooning

Take off from Mareeba for a Hot Air Balloon adventure. Soar over the Atherton Tablelands’ farmlands, rivers and forests as the sun comes up.

Hou Wang Temple

In town, visit the fully restored Hou Wang Temple. Chinese prospectors came to Atherton Tablelands in the late 1800s to fossick for gold and built the temple. It’s now part of a museum complex showcasing artefacts and archaeological displays and Atherton’s Chinese heritage.

It is the last timber and iron Chinese temple in Australia. Most of the temple fittings, including the elaborate carvings, bell and metal vessels, were made in China and transported to Australia. Entry to the museum is free and family tour tickets are $20.

Swim in three waterfalls on the Waterfalls Circuit

Even better than a dip in a swimming pool is one beneath a waterfall. Atherton Tablelands is blessed with some of Australia’s most picturesque cascades. Within 10 kilometres of each other are Ellinjaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls. Bathe in the beautiful springs and enjoy the surrounding tropical rainforest.

Millaa Millaa Falls is said to be the most photographed waterfall in Australia. Enjoy the view from the grassy picnic area.

See the Balancing Rock in Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park

Marvel at the seven-metre high Balancing Rock. The spectacular limestone outcrop is along a 440-metre walking loop. The walk is graded ‘moderate’ because of its uneven rock surface and slight incline up to the Balancing Rock. From the vantage point, you can see the Balancing Rock as well as expansive views of the surrounding countryside.

There are a number of small caves on the walk including one with Aboriginal cave art. The cave art is 20 metres to the far right of the Balancing Rock car park.

Lake Tinaroo

Lake Tinaroo is a great place to spend a day relaxing. You can sail, swim, walk, fish and picnic here. Swimming with kids is especially good beside the jetty due to the shallow waters. Walk along the dam wall to spot lots of birdlife. The Lake Tinaroo Cafe does great takeaway burgers you can take down to eat at the water’s edge.

Spot platypus

Platypus live in many of the creeks and still pools around Atherton Tablelands.

The Platypus Viewing Platform in Yungaburra is the most likely place to see a platypus in Atherton Tablelands. The platform sits above Peterson Creek with views over the surrounding scenery. Tarzali Lakes at Minbun is also quite popular for sightings.

When looking for platypus, encourage the kids to keep quiet as they have good hearing. You’ll first spot a bow wave created by their front paws when they paddle through the water.

Barron Gorge National Park

The stunning 260-metre-tall Barron Falls can be found in Barron Gorge National Park.

Visit the Curtain Fig Tree

This world heritage tree is in Curtain Fig Tree National Park. The tree’s roots begin 15 metres above the forest floor. They drop down from the strangler fig tree to form a ‘curtain’ of roots. This cool thing to do in Atherton Tablelands has been growing for hundreds of years. A boardwalk circles the tree and is about a 10-minute loop.

Atherton Tablelands is a cool alternative to Cairns

Cairns is the usual access point to Tropical North Queensland and for many, it’s where they’ll also stay. But Atherton Tablelands is the alternative away from the coast. At an elevation of 700 metres, it has a more agreeable climate. If the high humidity levels found at sea level aren’t your cup of tea, then this is your solution.

You’ll find yourself in another world, one cooled by World Heritage-listed rainforests and moistened by gushing waterfalls. It’s a mountainous region cradling crafty villages and historic mining outposts, where savannah grasslands meet towering kauri pine trees. You’ll love all the things to do in Atherton Tablelands with kids.

Where to stay in Atherton Tablelands

There are numerous hotels, motels, farm stays and B&Bs around Atherton, however, here are our top three for families.

Canopy Treehouses

Imagine sleeping in the treetops of an ancient rainforest teeming with wildlife. The eco-friendly Canopy Treehouses are located on the banks of the Ithaca River. They boast a fully self-contained kitchen, barbecue and spa.

BIG4 NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park

Bunk down in the eco-certified BIG4 NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park. On-site lodges, cottages and villas are spread out across the shady, two-hectare, pet-friendly property. There is ample space for camping on either side of a creek that’s home to platypuses.

The Eco Family Villa sleeps four. It has full kitchen facilities, cable television access, free Wi-Fi, a furnished front balcony and parking space. The villa is part of the park’s solar cabin range that was partly subsidised by a government funding initiative called the Tourism Quality Project. Part of the overnight tariff is donated to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

The camp kitchen and centrally located amenities block are spotlessly clean. A mountain bike-cleaning station is a thoughtful addition for those who tackle the 60 kilometres of trails on the edge of town.

During the day parents can relax inside a Balinese-style pavilion complete with thatched roofing and a reclining Buddha statue. It is near the swimming pool and children’s play area. Indonesian timber furnishings and comfy couches, with a gas barbecue, make it easy for parents to keep an eye on the kids in the playground while the snags are cooking.

Tinaroo Lake Resort

Enjoy a lakefront retreat at Tinaroo Lake Resort. A haven for water skiers, sailors, fishermen and wildlife watchers. The resort’s two- and three-bedroom self-contained apartments make it ideal for families of all sizes.